wont fit?? - Page 2

Thomas-the-Terrano2 · 02-04-2009, 22:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by pin777

thanks for ur replys guys i`ll find a way round it somehow.

me thinks i be takeing the spare off quite a bit

thats what i did one summer hol, when didnt need 7 seats. strapped spare
down in boot, left rear seat in garage. hitching was a dream. what you towing?

zippy656 · 03-04-2009, 05:50

[QUOTE=Thomas-the-Terrano2;47681]balls? zippy was gonna ask how many u got but thought better of it.

QUOTE]

ive one back. and oneday hope to get one at the front..

Quote:

Originally Posted by PLANK

that makes two of us, i dont find them any help and a bit of a pest at the best!

im sure if you load the caravan properly. all is well. ok so Mrs Zippy loads it properly..

dinky · 03-04-2009, 08:29

Try a WINTEROFF stableizer ,beter than alko and lower no handle sticking up.When funds allow dumping my alko.

(RIP) PLANK · 03-04-2009, 09:16

just practice loading your caravan well! keep it at maximum nose weight, nothing heavy high up, correct tyre pressures (not too high!) he same goes for the towing vehicle, it doesnt need massive extra pressure in the tyres to cope with an etra 50-70k nose weight that isnt even the weight of an adult passanger (70k i about 11 stone!) and dont set out to dirve at silly speeds.

careful braking and manouvering etc. and you dont need a stabaliser at all!

out of interest have those of you with front tow/ push bars got alko balls fitted? is it therfore ore stable going backwards

Deleted account DD · 03-04-2009, 17:27

I'm not going to get into the perennial argument of do hitch stabilisers do anything or not.

If you load your caravan properly as plank says and drive it properly no probs and they may just be superfluous, I've harboured that thought for a long time.

But as a lot of vans come with them as standard why ditch them? they just may help as back up one day, there's no substantial evidence to say they wont. Thats nothing to do with a cosy feeling, from my view its based on practical engineering experience and a decent understanding of physics & dynamics (I may not sound it but I am a reasonably educated engineer by trade but binned uni for hands on

it paid the bills better

).

If you accept youve got one and choose not to ditch it I really dont understand why theres such a big downer (costs aside

) on the replacenment handle

I found one on ebay 2nd hand (unmarked condition) for £12 + £5 p&p.

We have the Alko 3000 which is the biggest chunkiest of them on our van and it went from standard handle fitted = chew on to 4x4 handle in use = pice of piss

no removing spare wheels, no squashing hands and twisting arms.

On a slight aside for stability I do love the presence of the Alko ATC , again as a back up, not as a substitute for proper towing skills and set up but I would say anyone who claims theyve never been caught out is either brain dead or telling porkies

The reason for my like of them is whilst driving down through Northumberland, nothing to see to warn us, we crossed an open gap along the A1 and got wacked by one hell of a crosswind. All happened very quickly but all I would describe the van as doing was snapping back into line very very quickly indeed. I was in the process of (trying

) to react properly and was beaten to it.

I asked around including speaking to Alko tech people and what I described happening to us is exactly what it is supposed to do.

Cant fault it and I'll always wonder if it saved the day

but as said by Plank and others you should startoff doing it right from basics.

(RIP) PLANK · 06-04-2009, 16:55

for me even with a replacment handle I still dont see the draw of them, if towing several different caravans with several different vehicles, and other trailers inbetween the alko stabaliser and grease free ball combiantion is a pain. Plus if you space the ball further back from the tow bar to allow for an alko standard handle (as the replacment one would need to be on every caravan you tow) you effectivley shift the load further from the back axel and this makes towing less stable (ehich is an established principle in stable towing)

the other issue i have with then is the get stuck on the tow ball and can be a pain to unhitch, the standard alko line is this is due to worn pads or a non alko ball but even with new pads and an alko ball I have spent happy times ith jokey wheel wound down bouncing on the back of the towing vehicle to frre them, even after the jiggling backwards and forwards a little bit routine has been exhausted.

And there is no sustantial evidence to prove they do a lot (if anyhting)

so as an equation ,the negative points i have raised against the positives and you end up with a neutral score at best!

if you allready have one fitted and never tow anything else with your vehicle then i agee, if you are happy with it keep it, but i certainly wouldn't recommend rushing out to buy one!

and if you tow any other trailer you know its only a matter of time until you leave grease on the tow ball

i carry a can of brake cleaner spray just in case, having said that, when they get stuck i some times squirt them with WD40 as if the pads are worn out anyway what have you got to loose? One alko agent told me the genuine ball has a special polymer coating to prevent the ball form becoming jammed in the head, that must be the black paint that rubs off and clogs the pads? most people recommend you scrape this off first.

they are pretty much standard fit to new caravans now though so it loooks like this debate will continue or years to come!

Deleted account DD · 07-04-2009, 20:07

My point remains, if they come on your van as standard and you aren't chopping and changing between units, why bother replacing?

Is your insurer first of all aware of and secondly happy with the modification which will be perceived within that industry (and in examples like this where there is no significant evidence one way or the other perception is all) as a reduction in safety measures or an increase in risk due to the variance from standard manufacturers spec

.

Food for thought

Jocky · 07-04-2009, 20:39

Thing I couldn't get my head round on my new van. Its got ATC trailer control and the Alko Stabilizer.
Thought the ATC was to do away with the need for the stabilizer??

Haven't got a problem with the handle and spare wheel on the Patrol.

Deleted account DD · 07-04-2009, 20:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jocky

Thing I couldn't get my head round on my new van. Its got ATC trailer control and the Alko Stabilizer.
Thought the ATC was to do away with the need for the stabilizer??

No idea mate. Belt and braces , sales technique?

07-04-2009, 20:39	#23
Jocky Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Teesside,Englandshire, I only sleep there honest. Vehicle: Nissan Patrol 2.8 TD6 Y61 Posts: 1,420	Thing I couldn't get my head round on my new van. Its got ATC trailer control and the Alko Stabilizer. Thought the ATC was to do away with the need for the stabilizer?? Haven't got a problem with the handle and spare wheel on the Patrol. __________________ (Y61) Patrol 2.8TD6 SE Touring.DPT Box. Ironman Nitro Shocks OME Springs 20mm lift front, 30mm lift rear. 33" General Grabber AT's, Airtec Snorkel, EGR Mod. 2.5" Stainless Exhaust

03-04-2009, 08:29	#18
dinky Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF SOUTH YORKSHIRE Vehicle: t20 lwb Posts: 1,238	Try a WINTEROFF stableizer ,beter than alko and lower no handle sticking up.When funds allow dumping my alko.

03-04-2009, 09:16	#19
(RIP) PLANK Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Central England, in the Heart of the Black Country Vehicle: T2 2004 TDI SE LWB Posts: 7,740	just practice loading your caravan well! keep it at maximum nose weight, nothing heavy high up, correct tyre pressures (not too high!) he same goes for the towing vehicle, it doesnt need massive extra pressure in the tyres to cope with an etra 50-70k nose weight that isnt even the weight of an adult passanger (70k i about 11 stone!) and dont set out to dirve at silly speeds. careful braking and manouvering etc. and you dont need a stabaliser at all! out of interest have those of you with front tow/ push bars got alko balls fitted? is it therfore ore stable going backwards

03-04-2009, 17:27	#20
Deleted account DD Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 4,705	I'm not going to get into the perennial argument of do hitch stabilisers do anything or not. If you load your caravan properly as plank says and drive it properly no probs and they may just be superfluous, I've harboured that thought for a long time. But as a lot of vans come with them as standard why ditch them? they just may help as back up one day, there's no substantial evidence to say they wont. Thats nothing to do with a cosy feeling, from my view its based on practical engineering experience and a decent understanding of physics & dynamics (I may not sound it but I am a reasonably educated engineer by trade but binned uni for hands on it paid the bills better ). If you accept youve got one and choose not to ditch it I really dont understand why theres such a big downer (costs aside ) on the replacenment handle I found one on ebay 2nd hand (unmarked condition) for £12 + £5 p&p. We have the Alko 3000 which is the biggest chunkiest of them on our van and it went from standard handle fitted = chew on to 4x4 handle in use = pice of piss no removing spare wheels, no squashing hands and twisting arms. On a slight aside for stability I do love the presence of the Alko ATC , again as a back up, not as a substitute for proper towing skills and set up but I would say anyone who claims theyve never been caught out is either brain dead or telling porkies The reason for my like of them is whilst driving down through Northumberland, nothing to see to warn us, we crossed an open gap along the A1 and got wacked by one hell of a crosswind. All happened very quickly but all I would describe the van as doing was snapping back into line very very quickly indeed. I was in the process of (trying ) to react properly and was beaten to it. I asked around including speaking to Alko tech people and what I described happening to us is exactly what it is supposed to do. Cant fault it and I'll always wonder if it saved the day but as said by Plank and others you should startoff doing it right from basics.

06-04-2009, 16:55	#21
(RIP) PLANK Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Central England, in the Heart of the Black Country Vehicle: T2 2004 TDI SE LWB Posts: 7,740	for me even with a replacment handle I still dont see the draw of them, if towing several different caravans with several different vehicles, and other trailers inbetween the alko stabaliser and grease free ball combiantion is a pain. Plus if you space the ball further back from the tow bar to allow for an alko standard handle (as the replacment one would need to be on every caravan you tow) you effectivley shift the load further from the back axel and this makes towing less stable (ehich is an established principle in stable towing) the other issue i have with then is the get stuck on the tow ball and can be a pain to unhitch, the standard alko line is this is due to worn pads or a non alko ball but even with new pads and an alko ball I have spent happy times ith jokey wheel wound down bouncing on the back of the towing vehicle to frre them, even after the jiggling backwards and forwards a little bit routine has been exhausted. And there is no sustantial evidence to prove they do a lot (if anyhting) so as an equation ,the negative points i have raised against the positives and you end up with a neutral score at best! if you allready have one fitted and never tow anything else with your vehicle then i agee, if you are happy with it keep it, but i certainly wouldn't recommend rushing out to buy one! and if you tow any other trailer you know its only a matter of time until you leave grease on the tow ball i carry a can of brake cleaner spray just in case, having said that, when they get stuck i some times squirt them with WD40 as if the pads are worn out anyway what have you got to loose? One alko agent told me the genuine ball has a special polymer coating to prevent the ball form becoming jammed in the head, that must be the black paint that rubs off and clogs the pads? most people recommend you scrape this off first. they are pretty much standard fit to new caravans now though so it loooks like this debate will continue or years to come!

07-04-2009, 20:07	#22
Deleted account DD Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 4,705	My point remains, if they come on your van as standard and you aren't chopping and changing between units, why bother replacing? Is your insurer first of all aware of and secondly happy with the modification which will be perceived within that industry (and in examples like this where there is no significant evidence one way or the other perception is all) as a reduction in safety measures or an increase in risk due to the variance from standard manufacturers spec . Food for thought